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CQEffilGHX DEPOSIT. 



niie Fountain of Youth 



THE FOUNTAIN OF 
YOUTH 



BY 



M. Belle Matfhetfs 




BOSTON, U. S.-A. 1920 



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Copyright 1920 
By M. Bei^ee Matthews 



NOV 10 1920 

■©CI.A604035 






Mhe Fountain of Toum 

Ah! here are the roads I am seeking 
To my left is the one down the meadow; 
With a rambling brook near by — 
At the right is the towering yew tree 
Whose top seems luring the sky 
And here also awaits the guardsman 
Who may question my right ; and alas ! 
Over the road I am seeking; 'tis said 
But few are allowed to pass. 

What seek ye, my brother who wandereth ? 

What seek ye I ask the day? 

I seek the key of knowledge 

Can you guide me on my way? 

It is as guide I await here 

The coming of all mankind 

For now, and anon, they are coming 

Since all this road must find ; 

They are seeking the key of knowledge 

To unlock the door of Truth 

That they each may enter it's portals 

And drink of the Fountain of Youth. 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

Yea, brother, come upward and onward 
The road thou seeketh is plain 
But back in the realms of memory 
You may hear a long silent train. 
Still, it is not I who should warn thee, 
Neither, should I quell the zest 
For without the shadow of memories 
No one would of Truth be in quest. 

All alert, with shoulders thrown backward, 
And with chin pointing upward in air, 
What care I, said this man so masterly, 
Whether the road be shadowed or fair — 
I ask a boon of no man; 
Whatsoever, I desire, I demand, 
But, alack; on the road before him 
Stood a wall, enclosing the land. 
What meaneth this sir, guardsman? 
Come, open the gate I say, 
For I've somewhat of a journey 
And would hasten on my way. 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

Thus answered the armored guardsman: 

An armor thou must wear, 

Ere thou canst reach the summit 

Of the mountain over there; 

In a moment all was darkness, 

Soon replaced by a broad white light 

And his mind was called backward 

To a page in memory's sight — 

He saw his dishonest dealings 

In storing his hoarded gold, 

Saw numerous ragged children, whose faces 

Were growing sad and old. 

They were the faces of the little workers 

Who of just wages he had robbed; 

Also, many a widowed mother, who 

In helpless anguish sobbed — 

He saw young girls in gay dresses 

Whose heads were bowed in shame, 

And all in their marching downward 

Were chanting a dirge to his name. 



i 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

An armor of Love and Charity 

Said the Guardsman thou must wear, 

Ere thou may share the blessings 

Which are garnered over there. 

Now bowed was the head of this proud one 

As he turned and followed the throng 

While memory resounded by echo 

The dirge of their saddening song. 

Now, at the gate stood a grand man, 

Portly, tall, well-groomed and well-fed, 

Who was so very self-righteous, he visioned 

A halo, about his own head — 

Prithee guardsman — was his greeting, 

Why lock thou the gate unto me? 

I am a teacher of Truth in yon city 

And should pass by unquestioned, you see ; 

Ere any pass by these portals, 

Old memories they must recall 

Casting them into the balance 

To measure their worth as they fall. 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

In memory he looked down the valley 

To a brook with a cottage on shore, 

Also a little log school house, 

Which he presided o'er — 

He saw himself diligently striving 

To help the young minds to expand, 

While on the Sabbath he was the parson, 

Guiding all to a better land; 

Near by him stood a maiden 

Comely, gladsome, but coy, 

Her eyes shone in love before him, 

And his cup runneth over with joy. 

Again, he was in a city, and 
Sought by the fashionable throng, 
We're calling you, calling you, calling, 
Was the burden of their sons:. 



10 THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

Now, he stands in a broad white pulpit, 
Of the handsomest church in the land, 
There are rubles and golden eagles 
Falling into his outstretched hand ; 
His home is built like a palace, 
His wife befitting the same, but alas, 
For Truth, Love and Charity, 
He has all but forgotten their name; 
Now raising his eyes toward the mountain, 
Which is illumined by a halo of light, 
The maid of his youth stands before him. 
Beckoning him into her circle bright. 

Come again saith the guardsman, 
With Charity toward thy brothers, 
And a helmet garnered with Love, 
You then may open the gateway, 
Guarding the mountain above, 
And as you follow this pathway, 
You will gain a lesson in Truth 
And may drink again of that Fountain 
Where all regaineth their youth. 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 11 

Who awaits me saith the guardsman, 
And a woman stands at the gate 
Calmly demanding admittance, 
In proud and righteous state 
Saying, I would hasten my journey 
I wish not to be late. 
Smilingly answers the guardsman 
Past memories all must recall, 
Before they can unlock the gateway 
Which close th the gap in the wall. 

And she sees as in a picture 

Little children passing by 

With faces sad and sorrowful 

Sad longing in every eye; 

Each points a finger downward 

As they gaze upon the earth 

And she knows they were souls retarded 

To whom she'd refused to give birth. 



12 THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

She sees her home in the city 

A home that is wondrous fair ; 

This is the birthday of the Saviour 

And there is gladness most everywhere. 

In her house are the gifts she has purchased 

But none for the Christ Child, Love, 

They are only gifts of fashion 

Carrying no joy to God above. 

She sees in the street her limousine 
Near which stands a child thinly clad 
Asking only a very small offering 
To make her sick mother glad. 
She hears these words to her chauffeur 
Robert — why don't you send her away, 
There are places for these beggars, 
Why should she spoil my day? 
Robert put a coin into the tiny hand, 
When Hark ! to the strain of music 
As the singing of angel band. 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 13 

Now speaks the armored guardsman, 
Have Charity towards thy sisters, 
Then armor thyself with love, 
Ere thou can enter the gateway, 
Leading to the mountain above, 
Or obtain the key of knowledge 
To open the door to Truth 
And stand beside the master 
To drink of the Fountain of Youth. 

Now pauseth Labor and Capital 
Each placing a hand on the gate 
While showing upon their faces 
Are lines of strife and hate, 
As each demands permission 
To travel on the road to Truth 
I judge, my friends, saith the guardsman 
You seek the Fountain of Youth, 
And each must look toward the summit 
To learn what past memories recall. 
Then they saw they'd forgotten Charity 
And were not as brothers at all. 



14 THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

For there before them were marching 
Many starving and ill clad, 
And others, without fuel, were freezing. 
Then their own hearts grew sad ; 
They knew these were the weaker brothers 
Unable to contend with the strong, 
Workers at home or in small business 
Without strength to battle the throng. 
But when Capital raises the wages 
They must help to pay the price 
And many are robbed of the essential 
For sustenance of human life. 

You each must turn back 

Saith the guardsman, 

And carry your burdens on the road. 

When you've learned your lesson my brothers 

Love will help to lighten your load. 

And with Charity toward all others 

You are learning the way of Truth 

And with this Key of Knowledge 

You can unlock the Fountain of Youth. 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 15 

Labor's load grew so heavy he must 

Needs lie down to rest 

When Capital drawing near him 

Heard these words on him impressed 

"Bear ye one anothers burdens" 

And you will not need to rest. 

Then he lifted the others' burden 

He felt that this was right 

And he found that by its carrying 

His own load grew more light. 

Then Labor knew that Capital 

Had burdens too to bear 

And he knew that he could help him 

With brotherly love and care. 

Now, with new born knowledge 

They passed on down the road 

And each in his heart was happy 

Since he could lighten his brothers' load. 



16 THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

The last to halt at the gateway 

Was a lawyer ; fortune had come his way 

As he was now a stately judge 

In Justice Court each day. 

Now, the guardsman's eyes grew bright 

He felt that to serve Justice 

Was a truly honorable right, 

And he swung ajar the gate 

So the Judge could pass onward, 

There seemed no need to wait 

But when the Judge went forward 

Memory sat upon the wall 

And to the mind of his Judgeship 

Past deeds began to recall. 

He saw a lonely widow 
Of a man on trial one day. 
The evidence was not convicting 
But they sent him over the way, 
The lawyers' speech carried conviction 
'Tis one of the tricks of the trade 
What if her heart was broken ? 
The lawyers' fortune was made. 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 17 

Near by is another woman 
Her character is defamed 
To give a husband his freedom 
The evidence was framed ; 
He knew he was the lawyer 
Whom the evidence did unfold 
While in his mind was the tingle 
Of half a million in gold. 



He sees his own wife weeping 

With empty outstretched hands 

To a bevy of shadow children 

Who dance in circling bands, 

He hears her begging, longing for 

Little feet in her halls to roam, 

And he knows these are her dream children 

He would not allow in their home. 

Learn charity to thy brethren — and 

With regained honor and truth 

You may pass thru the gateway 

Leading to the Fountain of Youth. 



18 THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 

I've almost told you my vision; 
Yet ere I awoke from the dream, 
The moon was made my footstool 
Or, this to me it did seem 
I stood on it upward gazing 
The stars in one hand I twirled 
On the other there seemed balanced 
The Globe of our own dear world. 

Then far away in the distance 
The dazzling sun did I see 
And on the golden sunlight 
These words were written for me 
Truly with all these 
Can mortal man be blest, but 
If he have not Charity 
He cannot enter my rest. 



THE FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 19 

Know ye not that I am, Charity ? 
I am the Word, and the Word is God ; 
I am Love, I am Life, and I am Truth ; 
Come unto Me clothed in these raiments 
And be filled from the 
Fountain of Youth. 




